Ladder attachment



July 15,1941. w. M. WILSON LADDER ATTACHMENT- Filed Oct. 8, 1940 m 0 M .m r

Patented July 15, 1941 iJlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE LADDER ATTACHMENT William Martin Wilson, La Mesa, Calif.

Application October 8, 1940, Serial N 0. 369,332

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in ladder attachments and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a pair of extensible feet adapted to be expeditiously and adjustably mounted on a conventional ladder whereby said ladder may be readily used on inclined or uneven surfaces.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a ladder attachment of the aforementioned character embodying novel means for securing the extensible feet in adjusted position.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a ladder attachment of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, compact, light in Weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation, showing the lower portion of a ladder equipped with a pair of extensible feet constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the reference numeral I designates generally the lower portion of a conventional ladder. The ladder l includes the usual styles 2 between which the rungs 3 extend.

Adjustably mounted on the lower end portions of the ladder styles 2 is a pair of feet which are designated generally by the reference numeral 4. As the feet 4 are identical in construction and operation, a detailed description of one will sufiice for both.

In the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated, each foot 4 includes a bar 5 which is preferably of wood. The bar 5 has formed therein a vertical slot 6. Bolts 1 in the end portions of the bar 5 prevent said bar from splitting.

The slot 6 accommodates bolts 8 which are mounted in the ladder. Mounted on the bolts 8 are clamps 9 in the form of transverse metallic bars which are engageable with the bar 5.

Wing nuts It) on the bolts 8 tighten the clamps 9 against the bar 5.

As illustratedto advantage in Figure 3 of the drawing, the outer corner portions of the bar 5 are beveled, as at H. Then, the clamps 9 terr minate in inturned, diagonal end portions I2 which are engaged with the beveled corners II.

It is thought that the manner in which the invention is used will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. To adjust either of the bars 5, the wing nults H! are backed off on the bolts 8 to loosen the clamps 9. The bar 5 may then be raised or lowered on the ladder. When the desired adjustment has been made the wing nuts I0 are again tightened for pressing the clamps 9 against the bar 5 in a.

manner to frictionally secure said bar in position. When this is done the end portions l2 of the clamps 9 engage and ride on the beveled corners H of the bar 5 for squeezing the side portions of said bar together thereby contracting the slot. 6 and clampingthe side portions of said bar on the bolts 8. This constitutes an important and desirable feature of the invention. When the invention is used for leveling the lad' der but one of the extensible feet, as a general rule, will be brought into use. By adjusting both bars 5 downwardly on the ladder styles 2 said bars may be utilized as extensions for the ladder.

It is believed that the many advantages of a ladder attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A ladder attachment comprising a foot adapted to be adjustably mounted on a style of a ladder, said foot comprisinga bar having a slot therein and further including beveled corner portions, bolts mounted in the ladder style and extending through the slot, clamps on said bolts engageable with the bar, and nuts on the bolts for tightening the clamps on the bar, said clamps including angularly extending end portions, engageable with the beveled corners and adapted to lie thereagainst for contracting the bar on the bolts.

WILLIAM MARTIN WILSON. 

